After failing as a fan, and leading the Utah Jazz to a game two loss, I’m quite excited for game three. Here’s a quick heave on my questions leading to the tip off tonight at 8 PM.

How Loud Will Vivint Get?

Tonight is going to be electric, like 80s rock band electric. I’m not just expecting fire, I’m expecting the Jazz bear to be on fire.

Chris Paul called Jazz fans homers, and I understand his logic. There is not a lifelong Clipper fan in LA (if there is, that would be embarrassing). Their fans have multiple allegiances, across multiple sport platforms, but here in Utah, the Jazz are all we’ve got. We love them and we let them hear it. Aggressively. Passionately. Homer(ly).

Part of the 6th man’s job tonight is to make life difficult for the Clippers, especially as Deandre Jordan inevitably air-balls free throws. We split the series in LA, we have the home-court, and now it’s our turn to PROTECT THIS HOUSE.

The Jazz have won ten straight at home, hoping to round up to twelve by the end of the weekend. Energy Solutions Arena hosted some playoff masterpieces, but this will be Vivint’s first rodeo. It’s going to be awesome.

How hot can Hayward get?

It’s easy to knock G-Time, after an uneven first two tilts in LA. Yes, he’s doing all the little things. Yes, he’s pretty much averaging twenty a contest. But yes, Luc Mbah a Moute (ma, like mom; bah like black sheep; mootah like bootay with an accent) is playing like a lock-down corner, making life constantly difficult for Hayward.

Doc Rivers said he plans to match MbM’s minutes with Hayward so he can continue to be the primary defender on Utah’s number one option. Clipper fans believe he is their key to the series, and it’s hard to argue. If he keeps it up, and Hayward can’t land some Haymakers, the Jazz will be in tough shape.

According to ESPN, in the 142 minutes the two have faced each other, Hayward has 68 points, 22/64 shooting, and a -35. Mbah a Moute is simply making it tough.

Gordon Hayward in 142 minutes vs. Luc Mbah a Moute this season: 68 points, 22-64 FG (.343), minus-35.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 19, 2017

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But Hayward is an All-Star, not All-Average like his current play demonstrates. We need him to take it up a notch, to another gear. We’re asking a lot of Hayward (like I said, he is already doing a lot of other things right), but he is up to the task to deliver.

Can the Jazz stop the initial attack?

In game two, the Clippers won the first quarter by eleven. They came out fast, aggressive and the scoreboard proved it. After that? The Jazz won the second by two, tied the third, and won the fourth by one point.

After the game, Hayward said “felt like we didn’t — we feel like we didn’t play our best basketball, and we hung around and we hung around. Besides the first quarter, I felt like we did all right.” (via SL Trib)

The key to this initial attack is led by Chris Paul pushing the pace and then play in the paint by Jordan. If the Jazz can dictate the pace, like they did in game one, and limit the lobs, dunks, and post play by Jordan, they should be in good shape to take control of the fourth quarter and be in a position to win.

Prediction

I will be in attendance, therefore I’m expecting the time of my life. The Jazz are going to shoot the lights out tonight and match the crowd’s energy and tone, straight outta the gate. I also think Jazz fans win Chik-Fil-A when we Hack-A-Jordan in the fourth and he air-balls two as that guy throws plastic chickens behind the hoop ((you know what guy I’m talking about; he’s a legend). Let’s go Jazz.